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Begin past tense: began, begun
start, commence
Begin is an irregular English verb: the past simple of begin is began and the past participle is begun. Learn the three forms together — begin – began – begun.
Verb forms
Base form
begin
/bɪˈɡɪn/
Past Simple
began
/bɪˈɡæn/
Past Participle
begun
/bɪˈɡʌn/
Press the speaker button to hear each form. The transcription under each word shows the British pronunciation (IPA).
Example sentences
Base form · begin
Classes begin at nine o'clock sharp.
Past Simple · began
The concert began with a piano solo.
Past Participle · begun
The meeting had already begun when I arrived.
Key tenses
| Present Simple | Past Simple | Present Perfect |
|---|---|---|
I begin he / she / it begins | I began | I have begun |
| Present Continuous:I am beginning · he / she / it is beginning | ||
Common collocations
begin with
to start with something
Grammar guide
Begin belongs to the ABC group: all three forms are different (begin – began – begun), so each form has to be learnt separately.
- Past simple – began: a finished action at a definite time in the past. It is used on its own, without an auxiliary.
- Past participle – begun: after have, has or had (present perfect, past perfect) and after be in the passive voice.
- Questions and negatives in the past simple use did + the base form: Did you begin…? I didn’t begin.
Verbs with the same pattern
Quick quiz
Which sentence is correct?
Questions about begin
- What is the past simple of begin?
- The past simple of begin is began.
- What is the past participle of begin?
- The past participle of begin is begun.
- What are the three forms of begin?
- The three forms are begin – began – begun: base form, past simple and past participle.
- Is begin a regular or an irregular verb?
- Begin is irregular: its past simple is began, not beginned.